Government isn't their biggest problem

Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 8:04 p.m.

Well, my, my, my! I see where paranoia is in and common sense is out. Yes, friends, we have gone from having a healthy skepticism of government to outright hatred toward it.

Skepticism of any government is a good attitude. Anything else steps over the line. How many times have I read some person mouthing off against government? “I love my country, but I hate the government.” Besides being veiled treason, it is a foolish attitude.

It used to be that every victim of paranoia saw a “dirty, rotten commie” behind every bush. Now it’s “the government.” Some people seem to be unable to function without hating or fearing something. Anything will do. Call it “the government” if you must.

I read many times where some pundit, national or local, thinks he has the answer for all our problems. Lately some of the “answers” have been real doozies! Now, of course, the gun-control issue is causing people to make statements that are a marvel of stupidity. And insanity.

The latest argument for keeping assault weapons legal and easily accessible is that the arming of citizens with assault rifles would be a deterrent to a tyrannical rogue leader taking over our government. It is obvious that many of these people who hold to this belief have never — no, never — been in Uncle Sam’s military.

There are some who say they believe every citizen should have the same weapons the government has. That way, the government would take the threat of armed citizens seriously. (I’m not kidding. I read this just the other day.)

Seriously? Folks, do you know what the government has for protection? It’s called the United States military! We’re not talkin’ rent-a-cops or a congressman with a Saturday night special.

We have so many people running loose on the street, mentally ill folks. The goal of some of them? Rid America of government, period. You know, laws and regulations and such. These folks are just itching to get their hands on an assault weapon, and by golly they will make the White House and Congress dodge bullets and dance for their supper!

I want to point out something these mentally ill folks forget. By calling for everyone to have the same weapons as the government, they’re saying every citizen should have the right to possess a flame thrower (could also be used for a quick heating of the grill). Or how about a nifty .50-caliber heavy machine gun (could also be used to rid yourself of those pesky squirrels)?

And hey, hey, hey! A blooper gun (M-79 grenade launcher) would look swell in dad’s stocking on Christmas Day (fits right into the season). A couple of 81-mm mortars are a must (can be used to remind your neighbor down the block to return the lawn mower he borrowed).

Armor? The military has it. Since these folks are calling for an armed citizenry to have similar weapons as the government, everybody on the block ought to have a big bad-boy M1A1 Abrams main battle tank just idling in the garage.

Aircraft and naval ships? Now, seriously for heaven’s sake, as silly as all this is, it is certainly no sillier than the call for equality in weapons for “the government” and an armed citizenry!

How do people who are calling for such nonsense expect to contend with our military? Does anyone actually think the average citizen is going to be able to stand up to America’s military might if “the government” did become the tyrant these paranoids victims fear so much?

I have the opposite of paranoia about our government that gives me hope. I would rather believe in our government (while still being skeptical) and its commitment to freedom, decency and justice than waste the rest of my life hunkered down, sweating blood and fingering a popgun.

In closing, I say this in all sincerity: The people who truly believe “the government” is out to personally do them harm don’t need a weapon to take care of them. They need proper medication and loving friends. Their actions prove they have neither one.

<p>Well, my, my, my! I see where paranoia is in and common sense is out. Yes, friends, we have gone from having a healthy skepticism of government to outright hatred toward it.</p><p>Skepticism of any government is a good attitude. Anything else steps over the line. How many times have I read some person mouthing off against government? “I love my country, but I hate the government.” Besides being veiled treason, it is a foolish attitude.</p><p>It used to be that every victim of paranoia saw a “dirty, rotten commie” behind every bush. Now it's “the government.” Some people seem to be unable to function without hating or fearing something. Anything will do. Call it “the government” if you must.</p><p>I read many times where some pundit, national or local, thinks he has the answer for all our problems. Lately some of the “answers” have been real doozies! Now, of course, the gun-control issue is causing people to make statements that are a marvel of stupidity. And insanity.</p><p>The latest argument for keeping assault weapons legal and easily accessible is that the arming of citizens with assault rifles would be a deterrent to a tyrannical rogue leader taking over our government. It is obvious that many of these people who hold to this belief have never — no, never — been in Uncle Sam's military.</p><p>There are some who say they believe every citizen should have the same weapons the government has. That way, the government would take the threat of armed citizens seriously. (I'm not kidding. I read this just the other day.)</p><p>Seriously? Folks, do you know what the government has for protection? It's called the United States military! We're not talkin' rent-a-cops or a congressman with a Saturday night special.</p><p>We have so many people running loose on the street, mentally ill folks. The goal of some of them? Rid America of government, period. You know, laws and regulations and such. These folks are just itching to get their hands on an assault weapon, and by golly they will make the White House and Congress dodge bullets and dance for their supper!</p><p>I want to point out something these mentally ill folks forget. By calling for everyone to have the same weapons as the government, they're saying every citizen should have the right to possess a flame thrower (could also be used for a quick heating of the grill). Or how about a nifty .50-caliber heavy machine gun (could also be used to rid yourself of those pesky squirrels)?</p><p>And hey, hey, hey! A blooper gun (M-79 grenade launcher) would look swell in dad's stocking on Christmas Day (fits right into the season). A couple of 81-mm mortars are a must (can be used to remind your neighbor down the block to return the lawn mower he borrowed).</p><p>Armor? The military has it. Since these folks are calling for an armed citizenry to have similar weapons as the government, everybody on the block ought to have a big bad-boy M1A1 Abrams main battle tank just idling in the garage.</p><p>Aircraft and naval ships? Now, seriously for heaven's sake, as silly as all this is, it is certainly no sillier than the call for equality in weapons for “the government” and an armed citizenry!</p><p>How do people who are calling for such nonsense expect to contend with our military? Does anyone actually think the average citizen is going to be able to stand up to America's military might if “the government” did become the tyrant these paranoids victims fear so much?</p><p>I have the opposite of paranoia about our government that gives me hope. I would rather believe in our government (while still being skeptical) and its commitment to freedom, decency and justice than waste the rest of my life hunkered down, sweating blood and fingering a popgun.</p><p>In closing, I say this in all sincerity: The people who truly believe “the government” is out to personally do them harm don't need a weapon to take care of them. They need proper medication and loving friends. Their actions prove they have neither one.</p>